READY FOR ANOTHER USA ADVENTURE

My 5th tour with the Blue Devils drum & bugle corps is coming up shortly, and I am really looking forward to it! Only good reviews and reports on this year's programme for the corps!

I can't wait to get to see them live for the first time in Denver.

The snippets on Youtube look promising, but seeing the corps in person absolutely blows you away.

Something else I am looking forward to as well is going to my relatives in Michigan after DCI. And the best part about that is: My folks are coming out too!!

After a week together in Michigan we will all make a tour together all the way south to Destin (Florida), where we rented a c ondo at a luxurious beach resort. Might as well enjoy it while we're there!

So that means that after some 4700 miles (7560 kilometres) on the odometer with Blue Devils, I will travel up north to Grand Rapids (Michigan) first, and then hit the road again with my folks and uncle and aunt for another 2400 miles (3862 kilometres). Altogether that's a LOT of driving!! Fortunately I am not going to be behind the wheel most of these trips!!

Enjoy,

HK

BEST RETREAT CONVERSATION EVER !

Lining up for retreat is always a mess. Nobody really knows where to go, where to stand, who to line up next to or to march in tempo at simply walk to the spot.

I always end up having a chat with the members of the corps next to us.

Last year at Championships I tried to talk to a Senators trumpet player, but they took retreat a little too serious. We hadn't even entered the field yet.

Last night in Huizen we had the pleasure of being lined up next to Johan Friso from Middelburg (Juliana's feeder corps),.. and what a fun bunch!!!

Most of the corps was standing there at attention waitong for the signal to enter the field, but there were two adorable little kids (a boy and a girl) right in between the snares and the bass drums that were looking around as if they had never seen grown-ups in a uniform.

Both of them can't have been older than 5 or 6 I guess!

I just thought I'd break the ice and ask one of them: "Did you have a good show? " And there they went... they just never stopped talking.

The little girl gave me a full list of all instruments she played. I got the impression she actually WAS the pit and played pretty much EVERY INSTRUMENT... xylophone, samba balls, some drums, rhythm instruments, gong, chimes,... I never knew the corps had so much stuff in their pit.

Then boy said: "I was in the TRUNK" during the show!"

"Yes,... me too!", the girl immediately added.

That was odd.... Now I felt sorry I didn't get to see their show as they were on this afternoon, but I wondered what a bunch of kids would be doing in a trunk (book chest) during their show. The show is based on music from Lion King, Jungle Book and Tarzan.

"Just the two of you?" I curiously asked. I winked to the boy and said... "Luck you then! Being stuck in a trunk just with her!".

"No no..." he replied "not just us,... all of us", .

At this moment I was completely lost! I want to see their show next time!

Members of other corps on either side of us were listening in on our conversation and laughing because of the kids' answers. True,... they were some fun kids to talk to. I was having a great time, which was roughly disturbed by the cadence that started at the frontsideline and all corps lined up had to start moving.

The two kids waved at me when they stepped off.

I hope we will be positioned next to Johan Friso again some time at a future show. I would love to hear the WHOLE story about five or six five-year-olds in a trunk in the pit during a drumcorps show! Kids are so pure. They tell you everything that's on their mind.

Man was this fun! Last night's conversation makes me even more curious now. They should have a webcam built in into this trunk/chest!

Enjoy,

HK

ANOTHER WIN !!

Last night was an excellent night.
Fortunately the weatyher held off, so we were lucky.
Other parts of the country flooded, but in Huizen it only rained on three corps or so.

Both our corps (Jong Jubal and Jubal) took top honours in the Cadet Class and Open Class respectively.

The performance was HOT! The corps was really on fire tonight!
Quite some work can be done in cleaning the act, but we surely made another statement last night.

Both musically and visually we did a great job. Positive comments from a LOT of people in the crowd and from members from other corps. The spread of 2.8 points over our closest rival Beatrix' was said to be on the safe side.
I don't know... I can't really judge on that since I didn't really get to see them.
The youtube clips kind of make me agree on the comments made though.
Oh well... we won.. and that's all that counts.

In the States a corps won by 0.025 points... Not a whole lot... but they WON!

Ran into quite some drumcorps people I have known for YEARS, but haven't seen in quite some time. Always great to some good "old school" drumcorps friends! Thanks for the drink!

We have another performance in Brugge this upcoming Saturday. Then the corps will compete at the Kerkrade World Music Competition, but by then I will already be cooking in "Devils Food".

Enjoy,

HK

DCN SHOW TONIGHT

We just returned from rehearsal, and had a good run, eventhough we had to struggle through extremely hot and humid weather conditions.
After winning the first DCN show (a month ago) with an 11 point lead over Juliana, we are not sure how generous the judges will be tonight.

Then... also Beatrix from hilversum will be competing, so you never know what's happening. Eventhought the reports about Beatrix' were not so promising (a much smaller corps, late start,...) I saw a video clip on Youtube of their Tattoo performance, and thought it wasn't as bad as some people suggested AT ALL.
Tonight Beatrix' are on right after us, so we might get a glimpse of their performance.

We are convinced we will do really well. Things are running very smooth this season and the show is absolutely GREAT! It's too bad we don't have as many performances this season as we had hoped.

We have two and a half hours before the buses will leave to go to the show.
I brought Stijn (trumpet) and Laurent (snare) home after rehearsal so they can shower and we get a bite, so I will go to the kitchen within a few minutes.

Let's hope we the weather holds off tonight! We can finally use the pit-amplification.
Huizen is always a fantastic show. I remember 1992, when we beat Beatrix by 12 (yes TWELVE!) points. I really don't expect anything like that to happen tonight.

Enjoy,

HK

GREAT PARTY - GREAT FOOD

Last night was a great success. All the food was a HIT!
It was a lot of work getting this dinner ready for our colleagues and their partners, but well worth it!
Preparing the Asian wok meal was a lot of fun.

All three of us (Monique had a South American dinner-stand with two grills, and René brought his fish specialties to the table) received many many compliments.
Music teacher Roger brought his band Street Spirit to the podium and entertained everyone with a well-balanced repertoire of excellent covers.
We'll see what ideas will arise for next year.

Enjoy,

HK

COOKING FOR 100

It's almost as if I am preparing for the Blue Devils tour already.

Tonight is our annual party at school with the entire staff.

Last year my colleagues Monique and René and myself started a new tradition and exchanged the catered buffet dinenr by a "home-cooked" 7 course meal, served at the tables by some of our students.

Tonight we'll have that party again, but this time it's a little different. Since the weather is going to be great, we're moving the activity outside into the school yard.

Some of the courses will be served, but the main course is a choice menu.

We're putting up three different stalls/tables where we'll be cooking live for everybody.

Each stall/table has its own theme:
South America - with lots of grilling

Oceans - a fish bar

Asia - Chinese from the wok

I will be in charge of the wok menu, vith a variety of fresh ingredients.

Should be another fun night,... but a lot of work among the three of us!

Enjoy,

HK

BACK IN BUSINESS

I can't believe I never posted anything here after my trip to the States last summer!! I guess I just didn't feel like updating.

I know quite a few of you have been checking back here on a regular basis to see if there was a new blog... but NO. Still that story about the musical "Wicked"

With another USA Tour coming up soon, I am planning to keep you all posted again on my whereabouts, and perhaps look back at the year behind us.

Enjoy,

HK